Pope Francis offered his thoughts on the spread of war in our world and encouraged us to look to the Child Jesus as Christmas approaches. The Holy Father was speaking to the Italian reporter in an interview on Canale 5.
Pope Francis spoke on Sunday on Italian television about several timely topics in an interview with Vatican-reporter Fabio Marchese Ragona, on the programme “Il Natale che vorrei” (The Christmas that I would like). The Holy Father spoke about various important topics, from war to the poor and the World Cup.
Speaking initially about Ukraine, Pope Francis noted that we are living in a third world war fought piecemeal, saying that although Ukraine feels closer, there has been a terrible war in Syria for 13 years, as well as in Myanmar and “everywhere in Africa”. “The world is at war,” he said.
Pope Francis then pointed to something that causes him great worry: an “attitude of indifference”. In the face of so many poor people, refugees, and people who are suffering this Christmas, there is a terrible attitude of indifference, said the Pope.
He recalled an imagine of a lady in a fur coat and gloves ignoring the cries for help of a lady on the street as she exits a restaurant. “The worst that can happen to us is to look away,” said the Pope.
“Please measure Christmas spending, limit it,” he said. “This is a sad Christmas, a Christmas of war. There are people starving. Please have a big heart and do not spend as if nothing is happening.” He noted that there are children playing with pieces of Russian missiles, as they go hungry while other people starve.
Pope Francis went on to speak of the corruption scandal surrounding the European Union. He pointed out that we are all sinners, and that we must all ask for forgiveness, but added that although we are all sinners, we are not all corrupt.
“Sinner yes; corrupt never,” he said, adding that this attitude frightens him.